Part 3 of "Untitled Short Story"
By Chris Walker
The majority of the party goers being underage and Matt not being much of a drinker, he passed the time sipping Sprite and watching the event from the sidelines. Occasionally, Matt was approached by one of his students. He or she would strike up a conversation. The student would ask what Matt (Mr. Whelchel) was doing at the party or what the feeling was like to be partying with stupid teenagers again. Matt kept the discussion light-hearted and humorous. He never gave any true details of his intentions.
After ten or so discussion- and absolutely no dancing or much movement for that matter- Matt began to notice a peculiarity. Whenever he did notice Abby, she was on the floor no longer than ten minutes before disappearing only to re-emerge a few minutes later temporarily flustered. No one else took notice because of the obvious atmosphere of a party and Abby quickly altered her essence to a pleasant, welcoming aura as she typically had. However, Matt had never seen Abby become repeatedly agitated or even once agitated. He didn’t know how to address the situation so he remained stationary, being a wallflower through most of the party.
His unmoving position was eventually interrupted. A woman several years Matt’s senior surprised him at his table. The woman was only dressed in a short black dress with spaghetti straps and the skirt portion ended soon around the upper part of her thigh. The woman’s hair was dyed blonde, easily noticeable because her brunette roots were showing her parting middle. She was very attractive for her age, although older than Matt by a length she elderly at all. She leaned over his shoulder with a glass of red wine in her hand and she whispered in a sultry voice, “You must be Mr. Whelchel.”
Matt wasn’t surprised by the fact that she knew his name, but he curious to who this lady was. He placed his Sprite on the table and slowly turned to his new acquaintance. He was a little taken back by her surprising beauty but felt strangely more comfortable after noticing a dull look in her eyes. He nodded to answer her question and adjusted his face to look as attentive as possible.
Her sultry voice now sounded inebriated yet still comprehensible. “Abby is so glad you came o this party. She says you’re her favorite sub she’s ever had. She even said, ‘I wish he taught English all year.’ I think she has a little crush on you, Mr. Whelchel,” she slurred followed by a chuckle. Her fingers patted Matt on the shoulder, and the other hand raised her glass to her mouth. After a sip she continued, “Now that I see you, I can see why.” Her expression matched her voice: sultry and intoxicated. Matt could see other men enjoying this woman’s company but not himself. Her aura was fun and even familiar.
He had his guess towards this woman’s relationship to Abby but could not confirm his thoughts. At that moment, sitting blankly observing the detail of the lady standing before him, he received one more clue. Her eyes were the exact same shade of green as Abby’s. The likelihood of an aunt having the same shade were slim but a –
“Mom, what are you doing?” Abby shouted strutting towards the other two.
“Merely admiring the teacher you flatter so greatly,” Mrs. Woolridge replied.
Abby’s face faintly blushed. She mumbled a few words under her breath before saying, “I’m sure he doesn’t want your kind of admiration. I’m going totake him outside to see the rest of the decorations.”
Matt’s eyes bulged after hearing Abby criticize her own mother in such a manner. This tiff did solve a few mysteries to a certain percentage. Without hesitation Abby grasped Matt’s wrist and nearly drug him away from everything. Matt didn’t understand what he bore witness to, but he was beginning to already draw his own conclusions. The two found themselves outside on a stone bench under a tall oak tree. A few leaves clung to branches fighting to chill of late autumn. The red and yellow leaves mixed the appearance of the grass below the feet of the two humans surrounded in the seclusion of the outdoors.
Abby sat quiet staring at her feet. Matt turned his head to the left. Now, more than ever, he noticed how beautiful his student was. Her inner beauty was magnificent, but her outer beauty was amazingly equal. Abby’s skin was flawless. Her cheeks became rosy colored in cold and her lips were entirely kissable. Matt dreamt in that moment over twenty different approaches to a kiss. His dreams left a real taste in his mouth. When her eyes met his, he lost his breath and dropped his eyes.
“I’m sorry about my mom,” she said looking nervous and playing with her fingers. Abby had a flustered expression again. In school she never seemed to be easily embarrassed, but now her appearance matched the feeling of awkwardness she felt inside herself. To Matt all she appeared to be was human. Somehow faults attracted Matt and since Abby initially appeared perfect, he now knew the whole reason as to why he foolishly and entirely loved Abby. The only feelings more foolish than those were Abby’s enhanced love for Matt.
Abby’s most vulnerable side had been exposed. When Matt didn’t laugh or stay away in fear she felt comfortable and a great deal of overwhelming acceptance. She felt safe. In life people seem to only need to hear one sentence… everything will be fine. Matt was a walking example of that very sentence, at least in Abby’s eye. The two leaned into each other for a warm embrace. With her head bowed Abby whispered, “Thanks Matt.”
The day was still young. Abby went back inside and Matt followed. Now the party was more alive. Abby dragged Matt to every part of the festivities and introduced him to every person with which he was unfamiliar. All new acquaintances welcome Matt with a warm smile. Although a good party may seem mundane to some, Matt took solace in the comforting notion that he was somewhere he belonged. The best time came when Abby was allowed to open her gifts. Abby’s friends brought her cards, money, inexpensive jewelry, and even goofy socks (which Abby loved), but her favorite gift was indeed the one given to her by Matt. Reminiscent of the day he was invited to this event, Matt purchased an identical sweet to the one Abby’s friend Rose gave Abby before Rose left town. The only difference between the two sweaters was the new sweater was the exact same shade of green as Abby’s eyes. Everyone took notice and Abby’s face lit up almost taken back by the beauty of her gift. Abby adorned the sweater immediately and modeled it for the masses. Compliments rained down like star light. Abby ran to Matt to bestow a friendly hug and kiss upon his cheek. From there the night continued in that same joyous fashion.
Everyone felt high and had a genuinely great time. As day became dusk, dusk became night, and people began to leave, but Matt and a few others stayed. Abby’s mother made little appearance until the late hours of night. Her presence quickly became known. With a strut that physically matched her drunkenly slurred vocabulary, Ms. Woolridge approached Abby and Matt shouting, “It’s a real shame that I am envious of you two because what you two have is sick! You, Mr. Whelchel, with your perverted eyes, I should report you to the authorities and restrain you from ever going near my daughter!” Those lashing words were followed by a splash of red wine staining Matt’s shirt and wetting his face. Matt was so flabbergasted that he was rendered completely immobile.
Luckily, he didn’t have to take any action because Abby intervened. In a quiet storm Abby’s eyes struck Ms. Woolridge like lightning. “This party’s over,” Abby growled. With the same simplistic force she grabbed Matt’s hand and they trolled out together. All the witnesses stood paralyzed in awe. When the door closed behind Abby and Matt, the only movement was Abby’s remaining friends throwing away their cups and ambling to the exit.
Matt directed Abby back to his place as merely an attempt to escape what had just happened and to change clothes. Man’s nature did make sure he noticed the girl of his dream sitting before him on his couch. This wasn’t his fantasy though. In his imagination Abby would have been happy. In reality she looked melancholy. Matt tried to think of something to say, but his mind couldn’t muster one syllable. So, he remembered earlier when the two sat outside and how comfortable and natural the world was. The only logical approach to take was to sit down next to her. The two stood perfectly still matching breaths and sight of the carpet, but then their hands laced into one another’s. This moment was the epitome of their relationship.
Abby spoke, “Matt, I’m so happy to be here right now.” That statement left her tearful. Her emotions flooded out into a rambling, “I just can’t stand my mom; I want nothing to do with her. I don’t want to look at her or look like her. That’s why I spend so much time at school and work. The only reason for that party was because she ruined my sweet sixteen.. Oh Matt, if you didn’t come I don’t know what I would have done.” She buried her head into Matt’s chest letting out sobs and continued, “This wasn’t even the worst day, but I just couldn’t handle it. The way she treated you, looked at you, and – Matt please don’t make me go back.”
Matt just sat there. His mind was trying to make sense of all the events that lead up to this moment. Somehow he thought that he had all of the psychological issues. Abby was supposed to come along and save him from years of loneliness and depression. “Uhm, you can’t stay here as long as need be. Where is your father? Inform him so a guardian knows,” Matt told her in a calming coo. Abby nodded and dialed the phone before handing it to Matt. Abby’s father wasn’t surprised, and he didn’t know the tension of desire between Abby and Matt. Nothing was said to worry Mr. Woolridge, so there were no worries. Matt sat back down, turned to Abby and sighed out loud. Abby heard him and looked at his eyes. Her eyes caught a glimpse of his soul. She discovered all the personal details that made Matt’s life. She deduced his awkward nervousness, his insecurities, his good nature, and his loving heart. Somewhere in his eyes was a young high school boy that never left. Abby’s childish crush became a romantic love.
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